Life-preserver.



PATENTED DEC. 17, 1907.

A. NEGKBR. LIFE PRESERVBR. APPLICATION FILED we. 21. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOH WITNESSES A TTOHNEYS A. NEOKER.

I LIFE PRBSERVER.

AFFLIOATION FILED AUG. 27. 1907.

PATENTS-D DEC. 17, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' WITNESSES INVENTOR- 'wd'pZ/f Nee/Keg;

r A TTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLF NEGKER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LIFE-PRESERVEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1907.

Application filed August 27. 1907- Serial No. 390.281.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADOLF NEoKER, a citiz e'n of United States, residing atPhiladelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State in life preservers of the garmenttype, com I prehending specifically an article having the appearance of and adapted to be worn'asa garment for usual occasions and constructed to be quickly and conveniently "converted into a life preserver when necessary.

The main object of the present invention is the production 'of a life preserver made up to represent and having all the appearances and functions of a-vest, the inflatable portion when in colla sed condition being unnoticeable, the specific location and construction of v the inflatable portion providing for its ready a partly in section, of the lower portion of the and convenient inflation whereby to impart the maximum and buoyant efi'ect to the garment and still permitting its usual application.

The invention will be described in-the following specification/reference being had'particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which: h 1

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a life preserver constructed in accordance with my invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of thesame, Fig. 3 is a broken vertical section illustrating particularly the means for securing the folds of a vest lining in position when the vest is designed for ordinary use,

Fig 4 is. a perspective view of the inflatablg portion of the garment, Fig. 5 is an enlarge sectional view of the same, illustrating particularly theedge folds of the inflatable portion., Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view,

walls ofthe inflation member, showing an attaching'band.

Referrmg particularly to the drawings, my improved-garment is similar in all res ects to an ordinary-vest except for the detai s hereinafter noted, it being understood that aside from such details the vest may be of an desired style or size without affecting its i unc tion as a life preserver.

The buoyant section or member 1 of, the garment, hereinafter termed the inflation member, is made up of a number of sections 2, 3, 4, and -5, wh1ch sections are in effect separate and distinct compartments formed of two layers of the material and adaptedfor inflation upon the admission thereto of air under ressure. The inflation member is prefera ly constructed .of soft sheet rubber,

involving a single sheet or strip towhich, at

appropriate intertidal-is secured a section or overlying layer to, provide t e separate com partments 2-, ,3, 4, and 5, each compartment is arranged for-inflationthroug-h the medium an ordinary screw cap or containv any ordina'ry form of, valve foripermitting-insertion of the air andz'preventingwits escape; ias'for in stance such valves as, creased in the ordinary bicycle tires. The-rear and front/walls of each sectiollgaliejoined by afold 7, of such size and sha'peas will permit separation of the walls; under inflation and also permit their close relation or'contactwhen deflated. The lower edge walls 7 of the inflation member'are provided with all-attaching band or strip 9, preferably of cloth or other textile fabric designed to' extend throughout thelength of the lower edge wallsand referably secured 'again'st'the outer wall.. he strip 9 serves as a' means for securing theinflatlon.

member in place in the garment, either by directly stitching the same thereto or by other preferred means. Reinforcing bands 8 are providedatappropriate points for connecting the respective sections, preferably adjacent the u 7 per edges of the latter so as to maintain the inflation member as a single body.

' The vest 10, with which the inflation memher is to be used, comprises the ordinary cloth or other outer layer and the inner layer or lining. As previously stated thevest is of the ordinary form except that the lining adjacent its connection with the cioth or outer layer of the garment isforrned with a fold 13, corresponding approximately with the folds 7 of the inflation member, and adapted ,to

permit separation of the lining oftlie vestfrom the cloth layer during the inflation oi the member 1. The adjacent faces of the folds 13 of the lining are respectively pro; vided with cooperating members of a twopart connector 14, 'pre erably in the form of the ordinaryglove clas This construction permits the securing, o thelining in closere- Y ation to the outer'la' er of the arment when the member 1 is de att fe lianloe' vtime rmittin ro er movement 0 t e inin 1 ilirou h fis don flection of the clasp l4. fie low t e lining the cloth of the vest is revided on'the inner-side with aseries of elt preserver.

' any one section.

'tach the entire inflation member from the release the clasps 14 and'inflate one or all of eyes or rings 12, designed to receive a belt and "secure the garment firmlyabout the waist .of the wearer when said garment is in use as a life-preserver, it being understood is claimed as new, is

that in the ordinary uses of the vest the belt support's'l2are concealed fromfview. The inner surface of the cloth portion of the vest adjacent the forward vertical edges of the linin are formed with cooperating catch memiers 11; which are adapted when connected, to firmly secure the garment about the person of the wearer when said garment: is in use as a life preserver. i

By virtue of the foldsin the vest lining and in the inflation member both of said 7 parts are adapted for. collapsing when the member is inflated to permit the arment to be worn as an ordinary vest," W ile at the same time suflicient material is provided to permit a complete and'eflective inflation of. the member 1 without aifecting the connection between the lining and cloth of the material, so that the inflation member is always maintained in most-etfective relation to the person of the wearerwhen in use as a life By the useof-the several inflation sections, which are wholly distinct. and independent one from the other, I avoid deflation of the entire member 1 upon puncture or rupture of. This is important as it in-Y sures a'buoyant power in the life preserver notwithstanding the fact that one or more sections may be unctured. Furthermore, the securing of t e member 1 in" place by means of the fabric strip 9 enables me todeface when necessary forthe renewal-or re-. pair of said member, while the position ofo-the I member between the; cloth of the vest and the lining thereof serves tc'; protect themat e; rial of which the inflation member 'is-con-- structed, thereby dispensing with suchj-proi tecting medium formed as-a part of said member, as has been necessar heretofore,

In use the wearer, having t e vest. appliedin the usual manner, will removethevest,

the sections through the medium-of the tubes 6. The vest is then put on 'i'n'the usual manner, the sleeps 11 connected and the supports 12 tightened about the-Waist of the wearer. An efiectiveiife. preserver isthus. provided which when its use. as ,suchis no portsarranged below thecatches.

longer necessary may. be deflated in any usual manner, the clasps l4 connected and the vest worn as usual.

Having thus described the invention what 1. A garment including a vest section and a lining, an inflatable member disposed between the lining and vest section, a strip secured to said member and arranged to be secured to the lining, said lining at its point of connection with the face section being formed in folds to provide an excess of material at such point, and means for securing thelining folds in collapsed condition.

2. A garment including a vest section and a lining, an inflatable member disposed between the lining and vest section, a strip secured to said member and arranged to be secured to the lining, the edges of the inflatable member bein formed with a series of mit'a spreading of the lining and member in inflating the latter.

3. A garment including a vest section and a lining, an inflatablemember disposed between the lining and vest section, a strip secured to said member and arranged to be secured tothe lining, the edges of the inflatable member being formed with a series of folds, the edges of the lining being formed with similar folds, whereby to permit a spreading of the lining and member in inflating the latter, and catches secured to the front fla s of the garmentto h. 41 the latter in applie position when inus'e as a life preserver.

4. A garment including a vest section and an inflatable member disposed bea lining tween the lining and vest section, a stripsecured to said memberand arran ed to be secured to thelining, the edges of t e inflatable member being formed with .a series of folds, the edges of the lining being formed with similar folds, whereby to permit aspre'ading of the lining and member in inflating the lat- :Lter, catches secured to the front flaips of the.

position garment to hold the latter in applie belt supwhen in use as a life preserver,'and

. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of'two Witnesses.

ADOLF NECKER, .Witnesses:

H. MEIER, R. Fnos'r.

folds, and the e ges of the lining being formed with similar folds, whereby to per- 

